The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-27
GERMANS AT A BIG FEST
THE FRIENDLY SOCIETY'S SEMI
CENTENNIAL.

Dinner-Eon. Philip NJ. Russell Re-
views the Society's History-The
Rife Contests.
The German Friendly Society celebrated
its semi-centennial yesterday at Greenwich
Park. Fifty years have rolled their circuits
round since little knot of seventeen of
Savannah's well]cnown German citizens as
sembled to organize society to relieve the
sufferings of their fIiendleSs fellow-country-
men, and the senii-centennial of the society
which was then organized was celebrated in
a BETTING manner.
Early in the morning the society, accom-
panied by the German Volunteers. Teuto-
MIA Lodge and Uniform Division, Knights
of Pythias, the German Aid Society and the
Savannah Turnverein, assembled on
Broughton street, between Barnard and JEFF
ferson, and, headed by the Union Cornet
band, paraded TO Liberty and HabeTsham
streets, where cars were in waiting 20 con-
vey the members of the society and its
guests to the park The whole crowd was
IN its merriest humor.
AT THE PARK
At the park the cars were soon deserted,
and in a moment the grounds were covered
with white dresses and bright uniforms
The little ones lost no time in searching out
iunumerable modes of amusement and the
grown people as well were not slow to throw
off their dignity and give themselves up to
pleasure, though as usual it was under tho
guise Of entertaining the children
At 9 O'Clock the band, followed by the
Committee of Arrangements, started a cir
cult Of the grounds. and before long the
whole assembly was following in its wake.
The procession marched into the pavilion,
where the tables were spread for 800 guests,
and the places were well filed. President
Scheihing, IN q well-turned speech, vel
coined tho members of the society, the
guests and, above all, the ladies.
DIR. BowMAS's ADDRESS.
He introduced Rev. w. S. Bowman, who
said: Il think l express the sentiment of
everyone here when 1 say that I am pro-
foundly grateful to be permitted to be pres
ent. 1t is an honor to be here, and it is one
that fully appreciate. We are judged in
this world by the company we keep, and 1
would like to ask where we could find better
or more honorable companions than the
German Friendly Society. Fifty years.
Half century of charity! /
am told that among other deeds
of charity the society takes the care
of orphan children, educates, trains, re
fines and cultivates them Some of the best
citizens we have in the State have been
brought up by this society, without whose
care they might have been outcasts and
criminals. There can be no higher, nobier
or more useful charity than this of saving
children from ignorance and crime and
making them honest, sober and
upright citizens. | trust that
the fiftieth anniversary will mark
an epoch in the history of the society, and
as its ability TO do greater work increases
1t may accomplish greater results, so that
thousands will rise up and call it blessed.
/ congratulate it upon the event and upon
the successful celebration of the anniversary
bid you Gods speed and invoke upon you
Gods blessing.n
THE soCIETY's HISTORY.
After the applause that followed DR.. Bow
mans address had subsidized the guests turned
their attention to delicious and bountiful
collation., and an hour was spent in a most
pleasant manner At the close of the din
ner the President introduced Hon. Philip NJ.
Russell, next to one the Oldest living MEM
Der of the society. After Mr. Russell had
expressed his appreciation of the honor be-
slowed upon him in selecting him to speak
upon the occasion of the society's semi
centennial, he proceeded with a resume
of the organization and life of the society
On May 20, 1887, the Rev Stephen A.
Meeley, pastor of the Lutheran church of
Savannah, saw the Importance of calling
together the leading citizens of German
birth and German descent for the purpose of
organizing society for relieving the dis
tressed, helping the sick and buTying the
dead A meeting was held at DIR. Meeley's
house and David Leon, an old and respected
citizen, Hebrew by birth, presided.
TO HELP THE FRENDLEss.
The gentlemen who organized the society
were well known in Savannah. They felt
an interest in the welfare Of Germans and
their descendants. They consulted together
and concluded that DR.. Meeley's idea was
good one, but no action was taken at the
time and the meeting ad journed over until
Aug. =. AT that meeting DIR. Meeley was
called to the chair. A resolution was adopt
ed that a ballot be taken and the
three members receiving the most votes
should constitute a committee TO draft
by laws and n constitution. Those three
were Thomas Purse, Joseph Felt and J. j.
Waiver AT an adjourned meeting in Septem-
Der they made report which was adopted,
and the bylaws drawn up by them are still
the laws OF the society. The prime object of
the organization was charity The founders
wanted to extend a helping hand to the
sick, the manned and the needy, and they
worked with a will At the third meeting
they brought in forty good citizens as MEM
bers.
THE SoCIETYs FOUNDERS
The founders of the organization were:
Rev. S. A. Medley, David Leon, J. j. Waiver,
A. Bochert, Conrad Ludeke, James Polls,
Gustave d. Lesson, James Folker, William F.
Shearer, Thomas Purse j. B. Spann, Joseph
Felt, Charles Zittrour, John A. Hemerling
and William +. Herb, but they added new
members so rapidly that they soon went
into the minority. On Dec. 9th, 1887,
three members were elected and Mr.. Rus
sci was one of them, so if he lives until
Dec. d of this year, he will celebrate
his seni-centennial as a member.
April 4, 1888, the sociely invested money
for the first time, buying two shares OF Cen
trail Railroad and Banking Company stock
On June 10 the ladies of the Lutheran Sew
ing Society presented banner, the work of
their own hands. Three only of the men,
bers of that society are alive, but two of
them were present, Mrs. Franc and Mrs
Anton Bochart, were on the grounds, and
Mrs. Quantock is still living
TIE OLDEST MEMBER
OF the founders of the German Friendly
Society only one survives, Aaron Sibley.
now resident of Meriwether county. The
committee did all it could to secure his at
tendance at the celebration. and he was
anxious to be present, but being 81 years
old, he is too feeble to make the Journey.
Mr. Russell spoke Of the society's work in
-